Free and Reduced Lunch Applications (and What You Might Not Know)

I hope this note finds you doing well and enjoying the summer prior to the start of the 2016-2017 school year! I’m writing this letter to reinforce the importance of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program to your child’s school.

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications (PDF) were mailed out so you’ve probably received a copy already. What I wanted to write to you about was a little bit about what you can probably guess the forms are for but more so what many do not realize the forms are for.

What many can guess: qualifying families receive reduced or no-cost meals for students. But what many people aren’t aware of is that by filling out this form you can greatly help support our school (even if you don’t qualify for the lunch program).

What people may not know is that this program also provides money for schools to spend on educational support and materials through a program called Title I. Title I is a Federal program that provides funding to schools to improve mathematics and reading instruction for students. Every child that qualifies for Free or Reduced lunch generates money for the school district to use.

This school year the Title I program will help fund two full time Title I interventionists. So the good news is that for this year we will continue to have Title I support (two full time licensed teachers). The bad news is that nothing is guaranteed for the future. Each year we are at the risk of not qualifying for Title which would mean losing the support of those valuable positions and support for kids. As I mentioned earlier, we can only qualify for these funds if families turn in the Free and Reduced Lunch Form.

If you have not already done so, please fill out a Free and Reduced Lunch Form and send it back to school. Even if you don’t think you will qualify, fill it out. All information is confidential, no one at Murphy Elementary will see your form. Filling out the form takes only a few minutes, and it can have a huge impact on our students.

Forms can be dropped off in the office or mailed to the listed address.